Zoe Sturges (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"Basurero" - July, 2014
Puerto Barrios, Guatemala
Cultural Exchange Category

"This is a friend of mine, Savannah. She spent months of her life in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala choosing to love people who are in desperate situations. She is a woman that brings joy to other people just by being around them, even without being able to speak their language. I captured this image of her one day at the local garbage dump, doing what she does best; putting a smile on someone else's face."

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia – 2016
Photographer: Eugenia Falqui
Home Country: United States
University Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention

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In the artist’s own words: “This picture is my first impression of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There are people everywhere. They are all busy going about their lives. From businessmen to this colorful lady selling things on the street. I felt like the world was spinning around me."

Location: Vinales, Cuba – February, 2012
Photographer: Carlos Reck
Home Country: Kuwait
University Affiliation: Faculty
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention

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In the artist’s own words: “The subject of this picture is the disparity between the price of a world class Cohiba and the few centavos that this tobacco harvester is earning a day. Disregarding this apparent inequality he still has a smile left for us."

Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand – December, 2015
Photographer: Becca Geer
Home Country: United States
University Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Category: Cultural Exchange
Award: 3rd Place

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In the artist’s own words: “Just picture someone sitting on the ground in front of a 12,000 pound elephant. One hand was holding the camera and the other holding this Watermelon. All that stood between us was a piece of food that was gone in two seconds."

Location: Barcelona, Spain – October, 2015
Photographer: Monica Zhang
Home Country: United States
University Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Category: Cultural Exchange
Award: Honorable Mention

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In the artist’s own words: “I was really lucky to attend the fire running festival in Spain. The real name of fire running festival is Correfocs, which is a typical Catalan festival. Groups of people dressed up in their "devil" outfits and held fireworks to run around and dance with the drum beats. We (participants) were asked to run away from those "devils" and protect ourselves from the fireworks. We ran, screamed and laughed.I was trying so hard to cover myself from getting burnt by the fireworks. However, it was the magical moment when I was standing under the fireworks and taking this picture."

Location: Kyoto, Japan – September, 2013
Photographer: Wahyu Setioko
Home Country: United States
University Affiliation: Graduate Student
Category: Cultural Exchange
Award: Honorable Mention

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In the artist’s own words: “Girls in Kimono (Japanese traditional garment) at the thousands gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha, a shrine for praying to the God of Rice (Inari), one of the gods in Shinto religion. I took this photo because I could feel that the moment when people were preparing to worship and thank their God at his 'home' was heartwarming."

Husain AlAli (Kuwait) - Undergraduate Student
"Guided by the Light" - 2009
Petra, Jordan
Places Category - Honorable Mention

"On our car trip to Syria in 2009, my father suggested visiting Petra because it is in our way. We were very excited to visit that location to see (The Treasury) where did they film the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". We didn't know that it was a long walk to reach that place, but it was worth it. Walking between the mountains with the rose and orange color was magnificent, the light and shadows gave the place a more enjoyable scene for the eyes. While walking I noticed that my father and mother walking towards the light. This photo is very meaningful to me because of the colors, the details, and the composition."

Angela Brooke-Cowper Davis (Egypt) - Undergraduate Student
"Jodhpur's Jewel" - June, 2016
Jodhpur, India
People Category - People's Choice and Honorable Mention

"This photo was taken at the Mehrangarh Fort in the blue city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. A friend and I were walking around the fort in 46°C weather, listening to the history of this beautiful city. When we made it to the final gate, the radio tour we were listening to was discussing the influence women had in the fort. As I was listening, I noticed this woman in her beautiful turquoise sari, and I motioned to her that i was going to take a picture. She fixed the top of her sari, and focused her gaze on me. She was so beautiful in her own way, against the dark browns and tans of the fort, I just couldn't look away."

Joyce Zhang (Canada) - Graduate Student
"La Famili Jimenez" - March, 2016
Granada, Nicaragua
People Category - 1st Place

"This child kept peeking out of the doorway to look at me while my team and I were going door-to-door providing medical care in Granada, Nicaragua. That smile reminds me that to be able to provide a level of healthcare to Nicaraguans beyond their means was the most rewarding experience I've had and inspired anew my dedication to international medicine and global health. I was humbled by the gratefulness our patients showed, and the poverty in which they lived. I was once again reminded how lucky I am to even have the opportunity to go to college and that my career will allow me to help others every day."

Autumn Theodore (United States) - Staff
"La Pausa" - September, 2014
Rome, Italy
People Category - Honorable Mention

"Some of the photos that are most meaningful to me are of people I don't know. Capturing candid authenticity is my favorite thing to do when I travel. In 2014, I flew to Italy to take my first solo international trip. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and has driven me to continue solo international travel. One afternoon, after having toured Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo, I crossed the Tiber via Ponte Sant'Angelo. Toward the end of the bridge, I glanced across the street to the building facing me. The two people in this photograph were enjoying an intimate moment together and I couldn't help but capture it."

Jordan Henry (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"Memory Void" - May, 2016
Berlin, Germany
Cultural Exchange Category - 1st Place

"This photo depicts a portion of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a massive holocaust memorial located at the heart of Berlin. The memorial is a powerful experience, with its somber, concrete slabs - representing the immense, irreplaceable loss of Europe's Jewish communities - clashing with the youthful and vibrant German capital around it. It is a reminder of the hatred and intolerance Germans once expressed toward Jews, and how that hatred rendered an entire people into oblivion. The photo, just as the memorial itself, is stark and haunting."

Chris Gawronski (United States) Graduate Student
"Milk of the Mare" - August, 2015
Kyrgyzstan
People Category - 3rd Place

"Kyrgyzstan is a land of mountains and nomads, which has recently opened itself up to tourism. I took part in a small trekking tour that took us through beautiful mountain landscapes for three days. We lived in yurts and ate the local foods. The traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people led to their use of horses for multiple purposes, including milk. This elder woman is demonstrating how to separate the constituent parts of mare's milk to make a traditional type of yogurt."

Justin Griggs (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"New London Meets Old London" - January, 2016
Westminster Bridge, London, United Kingdom
Places Category

"This photo features two of the most iconic symbols of London, UK, juxtaposed against each other. On the left side of the frame the Houses of Parliament and the iconic "Big Ben" Clocktower are seen with their stunning Gothic architecture illuminated by orange incandescent light bulbs. This is contrasted by the right side of the frame, with streaking lights of one of London's famous double-decker red buses. By using a long exposure the image is able to capture the motion of the bus, who's modern blue and red LED lights provide a striking difference to the lights illuminating the structures of Old London. This composition originally drew my eye because of the possibility of capture an the London buses in a way not often scene, but I've since realized that the image encompasses all that I love about London. It takes the new and integrates with the old, and this idea is seen throughout the city, where a new construction project can be scene from the stools of a 400 year old pub."

Rachel Tomasic (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"On Top of the World" - May, 2015
Diamantina Mountains, Lencois, Brazil
Places Category - Honorable Mention

"After hiking up this mountain, my peers and I were in awe at the beauty we saw. The view was amazing, but so was the unique ground beneath our feet. Then, out of nowhere, we heard an "O-H" from an unfamiliar voice. It turned out to be that of an OSU alumni who was on her own trip and had saw some of our Ohio State gear. In this moment, I realized that although this space was huge and beautifully unfamiliar, it was part of a small world we live in." 

Zizhuo Pan (China) - Undergraduate Student
"Prayer Flags" - June, 2016
Tibet, China
Cultural Exchange Category

"Unique in Tibet, the traditional Buddhist prayer flags forms a incredible view itself."

Cynthia Conley (United States) - Alumni
"Resting at La Fromagerie" - April, 2007
Paris, France
People Category - Honorable Mention

"After making her food purchases of French bread and deli delights, this old draped Parisian woman plunked herself down to rest her tired feet. Without a care, she took one battered foot out of her right shoe and watched and chatted with passersby right in front of the cheese shop on this busy pedestrian cobblestone street in Paris, France. She is clearly dressed and focused on comfort! This is meaningful to me because it portrays the friendliness and comfort level of the people of France."

Rongkun Liu (China) - Graduate Student
"Romance of Nature" - July, 2011
Tingkey County, Tibet, China
Places Category

"Weather on the Tibetan Plateau can be a visionary director. He lays out a contrast of colors, light and dark, warm and cool, setting the stage for a romance of nature. While the Sun in the west is still kissing a rapeseed field goodbye, a rain in the east just cannot wait to jump in and bathe the flower."

David Kohn (United States) - Alumni
"Saffron Thread" - June, 2016
Lake Iseo, Italy
Cultural Exchange Category - Honorable Mention

"For 16 days, Christo and Jeanne-Claude created "Floating Piers", which connected the small Italian village of Sulzano with two small islands. The pier was wrapped with saffron colored fabric, and gave you the feeling of walking on a golden wave."

Don Leonard (United States) - Faculty
"Salt of the Earth" - May, 2014
Sacred Valley, Peru
Places Category - 1st Place

"Mountainside salt mine in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Local peasants channel spring-fed saltwater into their small pools. Once in the pool, the harsh Andean sun evaporates the water leaving the salt behind. Harvesting this salt in order to supplement their family incomes, this image reminds me of the resourcefulness and ingenuity of these Andean highlanders."

Avichal Sharma (India) - Graduate Student
"Sky above me, earth below me, fire within me" - February, 2016
Jaiselmer, India
Cultural Exchange Category

"An artist performing during the annual desert festival hosted in the city of Jaiselmer. The festival brings celebrates the strength and solidarity of the people of Jaiselmer."

Shichun Xuan (China) - Undergraduate Student
"Summit Hikers" - July, 2015
Diablerets, Vaud-Valais, Switzerland
Places Category

"The day I went to the mountain of Diablerets is not the most crowded day of a year. I almost thought my team was the only team on the mountain that day due to the foggy weather, but it didn't last for long. Then I found these two hikers in red walking towards the summit over 10,000 ft."

Kaylee Fields (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"Sunrise in the Sahara" - May, 2015
Et Taous, Morocco
Places Category - People's Choice and Honorable Mention

"While I was in Morocco, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in the Sahara and decided to wake up to watch the sunrise over the sand dunes. My group ran a mile or so to get to a high point to watch the sunrise. I took this photo on our way back, because I was in awe of the vibrant colors that radiated off the sky and the sand. The desert takes vast to a new level and the panorama shot worked best to capture that element. I also thought the textures of the foot prints made the image interesting, because before we ran through it, the sand was completely smooth."

Vladimir Chlouba (Czech Republic) - Graduate Student
"Surrealistic Sossusvlei" - March, 2015
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Places Category - Honorable Mention

"Sossusvlei, is a death valley in central Namibia which experiences virtually no rainfall. The trees in this picture are dead but due to lack of humidity, they remain firm in a constant position over many years."

Steven Hirsch (United States) - Alumni
"Sydney Harbor" January, 2016
Sydney, Australia
Places Category - Honorable Mention

"While visiting my 7th continent one evening in Sydney, Australia there was an eerie glow over the city. The Opera house and Harbor Bridge seemed to glow under the night sky. This is a 3 shot stitched pano of the scene."

Paul dHyver (Mexico) - Undergraduate Student
"The Color of Grains" - May, 2016
Arusha, Tanzania
Cultural Exchange Category

"These are grains sold at one of the hundreds of small tents in a marketplace in Arusha. Tanzania is a country where the average yearly income is about $500. With such low wages, people depends on basic crops such as corn and some of these grains to survive. This picture is meaningful to me because it was interesting to see the variety of grains and the way of selling and exchanging in the market. Although many people struggle, there is not a lot of concern for security since people respect each other and communities depend on its constituents to thrive. It is very eye opening to see how these communities are built on trust and the desire to help one another."

Alisa Feng (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"The Grass is Always Greener" - April 2016
Volendam, Netherlands
Cultural Exchange Category
Honorable Mention

"This photo was taken in the Dutch town of Volendam, on the Markermeer Lake. As people from all around the world crossed the bridge, the water became a mirror and the scene a painting."

Vinay Ravi (India) - Graduate Student
"The Young Monk" - July, 2015
Ladakh, India
People Category - Honorable Mention

"The subject is a young Tibetian monk at a monastery. These kids were preparing coloured sand used to make the Buddhist mandalas. What drew me towards them was their playfulness and devotion to the task at hand. One of them turned around with an innocent and curious smile. This picture invigorates the above blend of emotions and that is why i find it very special."

Gülnar Bayramova Barman (Turkey and Azerbaijan) - Visiting Scholar
"Thirst" - July, 2010
Khinalig, Azerbaijan
People Category - 2nd Place

"People say that this land is linked to Noah, as legend relates that, having seen this flat highland, he then threw out the Ark's anchor and told everyone on board to disembark. They said that the village took its name from the color of the mountain, located across, during the sunrise. This girl is the top of the water like Noah's Ark, and the color of her hairs is like a sunrise. The photograph is like a symbol of the legend."

Bo Luan (China) - Graduate Student
"Top Secret" - July, 2014
Tingri, Tibet, China
Places Category - Honorable Mention

"Among those who like mountains, few has the opportunity to get so close to the world's top - Mount Everest (or Mount Qomolangma in Chinese). And among those few people who come to it, even fewer are lucky to see the top in person. I would be proud enough to say, I'm among those luckiest! At an altitude of 5,200m, I saw the world's top right before I was about to leave. The golden sunrise lighting went across the fog surrounding the top, and spread its splendid gloss on the snow surface. At that moment, I was feeling living in a fairytale. What a gorgeous scene! What an unforgettable moment!"

Brittany Savko (United States) - Staff
"Two Young Boys....and Daffy Duck" - May, 2015
Manchester Parish, Jamaica
People Category - Honorable Mention

"As a Looney Tunes collector, it was such a surprise to see a few familiar cartoon faces while serving abroad this summer. Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, and Tom & Jerry all made their appearance on the walls of Devon All Age School in the mountains of Jamaica. I couldn't leave without getting a picture - it was recess time, and a few of the older elementary school students were enjoying a cool beverage in front of this colorful classroom. Their smiles, the bright walls, and the image of Daffy Duck remind me of the joys of childhood. I'm so happy to have this new, unique photo to serve as a memory of the trip that I can also add to my collection."

Martin Benej (Slovakia) - Staff
"Watching the Flood" - 2013
Bratislava, Slovakia
People Category

"In 2013, the river Danube that flows through Bratislava (the capital of Slovakia) brought floods unseen for many years. The water level was rising every day, until it reached just an inch or two below the flood barriers on the river bank. There was a digital meter of the river depth and everyday people were waiting in lines to read the latest numbers. I took several pictures of the flood itself, but this is the most memorable one for me - each day people of different ages, gender, beliefs or origin were patiently standing in line as one."

Gwyneth Frederick (United States) - Undergraduate Student
"Water Walk" - Summer, 2015
Rajasthan, India
People Category

"This woman, clad in yellow, walked past us as we spoke with a farming family of her village in Northern India. She effortlessly balances a water jug atop her head."

Yunze Pan (China) - Undergraduate Student
"Xiannairi Holy Mountain" - June, 2016
Yading, China
Places Category - 2nd Place

"In 2006, I had a chance to travel to Yading, which is located in Sichuan Province. It was such a paradise that my mind even became clear and fresh when l left away from metropolis and stood at the foot of one of three biggest snow peaks in Yading. I was impressed by its gorgeous landscapes, so I took this photo."